India, China maritime dialogue soon, say government sources

In a move to take engagements with Beijing forward and expand on military contacts, sources have told India Today that India and China will hold bilateral maritime dialogue soon.

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Geeta Mohan

New Delhi

July 4, 2018

UPDATED: July 4, 2018 18:30 IST

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HIGHLIGHTS

The planned India-China maritime dialogue would be at Joint Secretary-level

This is a follow-up to PM's speech that India is engaging countries on the maritime front

New Delhi is looking at bringing normalcy back into the India-China relations

In a move to take engagements with Beijing forward and expand on military contacts, sources have told India Today that India and China will hold bilateral maritime dialogue soon.

In a change of tact, while cooperation on the 'Indo-Pacific' was in many ways considered a counter to China's growing aggressiveness in that region, now, sources said that India would discuss with China all aspects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue which was held in June this year, including a discussion for countries to follow "rules-based" order in the Indian Ocean. "Our effort is to work out how we can get coherence in the Indo-Pacific community about the Indo-Pacific as a concept," said sources to India Today.

Although there was a bilateral maritime meeting that took place in 2016 which covered aspects of "maritime security" and prospects of cooperation, this time around India is proposing acceptance of the concept of "Indo-Pacific" which China does not approve of.

The MEA statement of February 4, 2016 said, "The dialogue covered issues of mutual interest, including, exchange of perspectives on maritime security, developments in international regimes such as UNCLOS and IMO and prospects for maritime cooperation. The next round will be held in Beijing on a mutually convenient date."

INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY

Beijing, however, has been mindful of New Delhi becoming a key player in the Indo-Pacific strategy.

An op-ed in the state-run Global Times on July 1 warned India that the Indo-Pacific strategy could cost India development opportunity. The article said, "Rather than falling victim to the US' purpose of containing China's rise, it is better for India to look to China for ways of self-development. What India can learn from China is that its ability to stand on its own feet will determine its place in Asia and the world."

Global Times article also added, "Of course, the United States and India do have common interests. Otherwise, there would be no Indo-Pacific strategy at all. However, any benefits from this strategy may be greatly outweighed by the costs to India."

INDIA-CHINA MARITIME DIALOGUE

The planned India-China maritime dialogue would be at Joint Secretary-level. This is a follow-up to Prime Minister's speech that India is engaging countries on the maritime front. Bilateral maritime dialogue have already taken place with France and Indonesia. Sources say the next two bilateral meetings would be with China and Russia.

On questions regarding the hard line position that China takes on the Indo-Pacific waters and the South China Sea, a source said, "We have not been critical of Chinese posture. We just want rule-based order in the Indian Ocean,"

New Delhi is looking at bringing normalcy back into the India-China relations. The first high ranking defence delegation from China since the 72-day Doklam stand-off arrived in New Delhi on Monday (July 2) after visiting Islamabad and holding high-level discussions with the Pakistani military.

CHINESE DEFENCE MINISTER TO VISIT INDIA

The eight-member Chinese delegation led by Lieutenant General Liu Xiaowu, the deputy commander of the Western Theater Command-based in Chengdu, Sichuan province in charge of Tibet and Xinjiang, held talks with Indian military and called on the Defence Secretary of India.

The focus was to take forward the conversations and commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during the Wuhan Summit.

Sources say Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe is also all set to visit India soon. Dates are being worked out.

On the economic front, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued licenses and given clearances to Bank of China to open a branch in Mumbai, say sources to India Today. Responding to a question on addressing the trade imbalance, sources said that clearances are being "fast tracked" for agricultural products. Clearances for non-Basmati rice is being followed up by the teams from China that visited India.

"If there is a willingness on China's part to recognise that the trade deficit has to be addressed then it is welcome because a 50-billion dollar trade deficit is unsustainable in the future," said sources.

While India would not want to call it "resetting" of ties with China, there are plenty of overtures being made both by India and by China to engage constructively and find ways to coexist.

There will always remain difference of opinion, but it can be worked out through dialogue is the clear message here. The one major point of difference is Pakistan. On the proposal made by Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui to hold trilateral talks among India, Pakistan and China, sources called it a statement made in his "personal capacity" and India's stand is very clear that issues with Pakistan are bilateral and there cannot be a "third party intervention".